– President Boakai tells members of the 55th Ligislature
BY STAFF REPORTER
Monrovia, Liberia — In a powerful rendition of the State of the Republic, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. yesterday used his 2026 Annual Message to the 55th Legislature to declare that the “Rescue Train” has transitioned into a “Development Express.” Central to this journey, the President noted, are the women and girls of Liberia, who have evolved from passive recipients of aid into the architects of the nation’s economic and social renewal.
Under the banner of the ARREST Agenda (Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism), the administration revealed a 2025 performance record that places gender equality at the heart of Liberia’s growth strategy.
A New Economic Frontier for Women
The President highlighted the staggering success of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project, which provided direct support to over 3,300 women in the last year alone. Looking toward the 2026 fiscal cycle, the government has pledged to scale this initiative tenfold, aiming to reach tens of thousands of women with the capital and technical skills required to dominate the domestic market.
“Empowering our women is not an act of charity; it is smart economics,” President Boakai told the joint session of the Legislature. “When we equip a woman with tools and capital, we are not just feeding a family—we are fueling a national engine of prosperity.”
Agriculture: Feeding the Nation
The President also highlighted major gains in agriculture, noting that women are increasingly at the forefront of national food production. He pointed to the One County–One Priority Commodity program, where women farmers have emerged as key drivers behind the recent surge in rice and cocoa output.
Infrastructure improvements have played a critical role in this momentum. The completion of 166 kilometers of feeder roads has strengthened the link between rural farms and urban markets, significantly reducing transport costs for the thousands of Market Women who sustain Liberia’s informal economy.
According to the President, more than 198,000 farmers received government support in 2025, with womenled cooperatives making up a substantial share of the beneficiaries. Officials say this targeted backing is helping women expand production, increase incomes, and strengthen their role in the country’s agricultural transformation.
Education and the Digital Shift
The administration’s commitment to “One Child, One Chair” has seen 26,000 desks delivered to schools nationwide, but the real victory lies in the classroom quality. With 2,000 new volunteer teachers and 156 schools now equipped with modern computer labs, Liberian girls are being prepared for a global digital economy.
These reforms, coupled with digital learning platforms reaching remote communities, are significantly reducing the dropout rates for adolescent girls.
Health and Energy: A Safer Path to Motherhood
The President also pointed to a significant breakthrough in national electrification, reporting that 63,000 new electricity connectionswere added in 2025, including 17,000 households receiving power for the first time. Beyond improving daily life and economic activity, he emphasized that the expansion is having a direct, lifesaving impact in rural communities.
A major pillar of this progress is the government’s push to electrify healthcare facilities. Eightyeight rural clinics have now been outfitted with reliable solar power systems, ensuring uninterrupted, 24hour electricity. Health officials say this upgrade is already transforming maternal and neonatal care, enabling safer nighttime deliveries and dramatically improving outcomes for mothers and newborns.
The President described the initiative as a decisive step toward equitable healthcare, noting that expanded energy access is strengthening the wellbeing of Liberia’s most underserved populations.
Strengthening the Social Safety Net
As part of the administration’s broader 2026 Vision, President Boakai underscored a strengthened social protection system designed to safeguard Liberia’s most vulnerable citizens. According to the President, the government’s efforts are already yielding measurable results. More than 8,000 atrisk children have been reintegrated into families or placed in appropriate care facilities, restoring stability and protection to thousands of young lives. In addition, 3,700 caregivers—most of them women— received targeted training and financial grants to enhance household resilience and improve child welfare.
The President also highlighted the expansion of direct cash transfer programs, noting that 15,000 lowincome households are now benefiting from predictable financial support. Officials say this safety net is helping families meet basic needs, reduce hardship, and maintain a foundation of dignity as the country pushes forward with its development agenda.
A Global Legacy of Peace
Closing his remarks on gender, President Boakai reaffirmed Liberia’s longstanding reputation as a global leader in womenled peacebuilding—a legacy rooted in the pivotal role Liberian women played during the civil conflict. He highlighted the continued impact of the Women’s Situation Room, a peacebuilding innovation pioneered by the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC). The initiative is led by Cllr. Dr. Yvette ChessonGibson, the Centre’s Establishment Coordinator, whose leadership has been central to shaping ABIC’s mission of women’s empowerment, civic education, and conflict prevention. Dr. ChessonGibson, a distinguished jurist and international advocate, has guided the Women’s Situation Room since its inception, helping transform it into a model recognized by the United Nations Security Council for preventing electoral violence and promoting inclusive democratic participation.
As the 2026 legislative session begins, the President called on all Liberians to join this “Rescue to Development” mission, ensuring that no woman or girl is left on the sidelines of history.
